Delayed and chronic mustard gas damage to the cornea
Pathophysiology of Chronic and Delayed Mustard Gas Keratopathy
Researchers are looking at why mustard-gas-type exposures can cause slow, worsening corneal disease and whether getting rid of aged, dysfunctional cells can slow or prevent vision loss for affected people.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Illinois at Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11174334 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If I were someone exposed to mustard agents, this project uses lab and animal models that mimic corneal injury to learn why some people develop delayed, severe eye disease years after exposure. The team is measuring cell senescence and the inflammatory signals those cells release (the SASP) after nitrogen-mustard injury to the cornea. They will test whether reducing or removing senescent cells changes how the cornea heals and whether it prevents progression to chronic mustard gas keratopathy. The goal is to create a clearer picture of biological steps that lead to long-term vision loss so new treatments can be designed.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people with a history of mustard or related vesicant exposure who have ongoing or delayed corneal disease, or survivors seen at specialty eye clinics for chemical-injury sequelae.
Not a fit: People whose eye problems are unrelated to mustard or other chemical vesicants, or those with already end-stage irreversible corneal scarring, are unlikely to benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to treatments that prevent or reduce long-term vision loss after mustard-agent eye exposure.
How similar studies have performed: Previous animal work has shown increased corneal cell senescence after mustard-like injury, but applying senescence-targeting approaches to delayed mustard gas keratopathy is largely a new direction.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, UNITED STATES
- University of Illinois at Chicago — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Djalilian, Ali R — University of Illinois at Chicago
- Study coordinator: Djalilian, Ali R
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.